Natural Killer (NK) Cell Markers

Natural killer (NK) cells are a form of
cytotoxic lymphocyte which constitute a major component of the
innate immune system. NK cells play a major role in the
host-rejection of both tumours and virally infected cells. They were
named "natural killer" because of the initial notion that they do
not require activation in order to kill cells which are "missing
self" recognition ("missing-self" recognition is a term used to
describe cells with low levels of MHC (major histocompatibility
complex) class I cell surface marker molecules - a situation which
could arise due to viral infection, or in tumors under strong
selection pressure of killer T cells).

2B4 (CD244)

a member of the CD2 subset of the
immunoglobulin superfamily molecules expressed on natural killer
(NK) cells and other leukocytes.
PMID: 11513145

BAT

can distinguish NK cells from other known
subsets of T and B cells.
PMID: 317706

CD2

CD2 family members regulate natural killer
(NK) cell lytic activity and inflammatory cytokine production
when engaged by ligands on tumor cells.
PMID: 16323413

one of the earliest T-lymphocyte Ag expressed
during ontogeny, is also expressed on human NK cells.
CD7-mediated signals appear to augment function of adhesion
molecules on NK cells, which may be involved in NK cell
activation by providing both anchorage and costimulatory
triggering.
PMID: 7506726

CD16 (Leu 11b)

CD16 lymphocytes are potentially more
cytotoxic than CD57 and CD8 cells.
PMID: 1379859

A new subset of natural killer (NK) cells was
identified in human umbilical cord blood. This subset of
CD56+/CD3- NK cells co-expressed the CD33 antigen, which is
present on early hematopoietic progenitors confined to the
myeloid lineage.
PMID: 7505004

a sensitive marker for Merkel cell carcinoma
(MCC) as well as for NK-cell lymphoma, but is not specific.
PMID: 16115052

multiple isoforms of CD56 are differentially
expressed on NK lines and play critical roles in the
recognition/interaction of these cells with their specific
allogeneic targets.
PMID: 1709676

The CD56 differentiation antigen, recognized
by anti-Leu-19 and NKH-1 mAbs, is a 200-220-kD glycoprotein that
is expressed predominantly on human NK cells and a minor subset
of T lymphocytes mediating MHC-unrestricted cytotoxicity.
PMID: 2478655

a member of the natural killer cell gene
complex family of signal transducing receptors.
PMID: 7964477

the earliest activation marker on the surface
of cytokine- or mitogen-activated lymphocytes.
PMID: 9188933

a differentiation antigen expressed shortly
after activation on T lymphocytes and other cells of
haematopoietic origin, including natural killer (NK) cells,
plays a crucial role in NK-cell function contributing to sustain
NK-cell activation, as it has been previously demonstrated in T
cells.
PMID: 10447727

CD69 is induced on NK cells not only by IL-2
and IFN-alpha but also by activation of the CD16 pathway, the
interaction with NK target cells and the direct activation of
PKC by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), indicating that
CD69 induction is associated to different NK activation
pathways.
PMID: 8477800

a novel member of the CD2 subset that
contains two of the unique tyrosine motifs present in 2B4 and
SLAM. Signaling through 2B4, CS1 and other members of the CD2
subset may play a major role in the regulation of NK cells and
other leukocyte functions.
PMID: 11513145

a new secreted isoform and a potential marker
for NK/T cell lymphomas.
PMID: 16369489

sialyl SSEA-1

a carbohydrate marker of human natural killer
cells and immature lymphoid cells. Expression of the sialyl
SSEA-1 antigen is strictly limited to a distinct population of
NK cells among the mature lymphocytes in normal PB, but the
antigen is present in a wide range of immature lymphoblasts of
T- and B-cell lineages as well as the NK-cell lineage. The
sialyl SSEA-1 antigen disappears from the surface of immature
lymphocytes of T- and B-cell lineages during the course of
maturation.
PMID: 2568858

Other Natural Killer (NK) Cell Markers

Studies on the relationship of human natural
killer and lymphokine-activated killer cells with lysosomal
staining and analysis of surface marker phenotypes.
PMID: 2456860